This used to be a blog for an English independent scholar of fantasy fiction - but then "Doctor Who" stole my brain, my heart, my soul and my life - so these days it's more a Blog about my on-going utter obsession with "Doctor Who" - with occasional non-DW book reviews and discussions.

Tuesday, September 06, 2005

I'm just listening to one of the soundtrack CDs from Gladiator and I was reminded of the scene in the film (funny that I remember this although I've not watched the film in ages) where a street theatre is being performed in which Joaquin Phoenix's character, Commodus, bests Russell Crowe's 'Gladiator', Maximus. The play is pure propaganda which is meant to diffuse the enthusiasm of the general populace for Maximus... This then reminded me of the play which Terry Pratchett's Fool gets Vitoller and his Players from Ankh-Morpork to write and act a play on behalf of his new master, the less-than-popular Duke Felmet in Wyrd Sisters. The play is meant to portray Felmet in a positive light and put over the "real" story of how Felmet's cousin, Verence, (whose throne Felmet has usurped) came to die.

The use of propaganda in plays (or indeed in poetry - during the early stages of the First World War several "senior" poets, such as Thomas Hardy, were invited by the Government of the day to write poetry for use as propaganda in spurring on the British efforts) or other branches of the Arts is not uncommon: Shakespeare's Richard III, for instance, was written to show that Henry was forced to kill Richard III because he was an evil king, with a hunched back and a tendency to kill off the rightful heirs to the throne. It may be true, as Hamlet said that art holds a mirror up to life, but it's also true that occasionally it's a distorting mirror that's being employed by someone in power to present the "facts" of a situation in a way that supports their actions and protects their reputation.

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About Me

I write and read every day - sometimes I read an entire book a day, sometimes I don't. I did a degree in English and History in the late 90s as a mature student, but I've loved these subjects since my school days. I concentrated on studying First World War literature and history for most of my degree, until I wrote a paper on Harry Potter in my final semester. I've been writing about fantasy fiction (for children and for adults) ever since (although I haven't lost my interest in the First World War.) In January 2007, inspired by David Tennant's performances as the Tenth Doctor, I took up writing "Doctor Who" fan-fiction (and no, I don't intend to try to publish it anywhere except on my Blog. I'm just writing it for fun.) I'm also about to start writing non-fanfiction as well.
I have a 'day job' which isn't very well paid, but does keep me in Oxford, the city I love, and is flexible enough to give me time to write.
I am a participant in the Amazon Europe S.à r.l. Associates Programme, an affiliate advertising programme designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.co.uk.

"A book is not only a friend, it makes friends for you. When you have possessed a book with mind and spirit, you are enriched. But when you pass it on you are enriched threefold." - Henry Miller 'The Books In My Life' (1969)

Disco legendo libros; scribendo cogito.

I learn by reading books; I think by writing.

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